Senate rejects expanded gun background checks

This video frame grab provided by Senate Television shows Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. using a poster of weapons as she speaks about gun legisalation, Wednesday, April 17, 2013, on the floor of the Senate on Capitol Hill in Washington. A bipartisan effort to expand background checks was in deep trouble Wednesday as the Senate approached a long-awaited vote on the linchpin of the drive to curb gun violence.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has rejected a bipartisan effort to expand federal background checks to more firearms buyers in a crucial showdown over gun control.

Wednesday's vote was a jarring blow to the drive to curb firearms sparked by December's massacre of children and staff at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn. President Barack Obama made broadened background checks the centerpiece of his gun control proposals.

The roll call was also a victory for the National Rifle Association, which opposed the plan as an ineffective infringement on gun rights.

The proposal would have required background checks for all transactions at gun shows and online. Currently they must occur for sales handled by licensed gun dealers.

The system is designed to keep criminals and people with mental problems from getting guns.

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Victory for what????? All that happened today was the status quo that allows guns to bought without background checks was maintained. Despite the shock and outrage over gun slaughter 42 Republican Senators and 4 Democrats assured that America can not move forward on common sense gun safety. The American people lost, the families in Newtown lost. Bought and paid for disingenuous monsters like Wayne LaPierre won, dirty money won, fear won, ignorance prevailed. That’s a victory – give me a break!

Profiles in Courage:

Pat Toomey(R); John McCain (R); Susan Collins (R); !Mark Kirk (R) They had the character and courage to stand up to the gun lobby and vote with the American People.

Profiles in Cowardice:

Max Baucus (D); Mark Begich (D); Heidi Heitkamp (D); Mark Pryor (D). They lacked character and courage, took the money and ran! They demonstrated they cared more about their own hides than the will of the American people or the memories of those slaughtered.

Thank You to the 54 Senators that voted for the bill.

Shame on the minority (46 republicans and 4 Democrats) that voted no! The NRA’s money was well spent on you! The next time any of you phonies talk about gun violence or mourn the loss of “innocent victims” the nation will know you refused to do anything meaningful to change it, they will know you are hypocritical opportunistic fakes – and we will remember!